An excellent, thrilling and fearlessly arcade driving affair that matches its technical brilliance with delightful game mechanic touches.

Improved mini-games help Off the Rails elevate itself higher than its predecessor, but we still have issues with such a bipolar approach to the theme park genre.

About as hardcore as a whimpering puppy and a bit low on content to boot, but this breezy title makes for a decent enough casual game.

A dreadful mishmash of mini-games, MinDStorm has almost no redeeming features and instead of making you smarter will simply frustrate you.

It still can't quite keep up with "Pro Evo" on the pitch in terms of purist authenticity, but FIFA 08 is a huge, glinting treasure trove of features and modes with accessible gameplay and solid presentation.

Fun and the type of game the PSP desperately needs, but it is disappointingly restrained in both substance and creativity.

Difficult but rewarding, Race Driver: Create & Race earns a place on the winner's podium, even if it doesn't play fairly all of the time.

Undoubtedly one of the system's best titles to date, Logan's Shadow brightens up the PSP library with a thrilling mixture of remarkably entertaining gameplay and astonishing presentation.

Comprising some interesting twists on gameplay, Friend or Foe provides great co-op play but making your way through the game on your own isn't anywhere near as much fun.

The Eternal Night tries its best to capture the classic Spyro recipe, but is let down by poor design, an unfair camera and infuriating difficulty spikes.

Nintendo again shows that it's the master of its own hardware with another sublime entry in the Zelda lineage. If you own a DS then this is an utterly essential purchase - it really is that simple.

Typically, Crayola Treasure Adventures is a far better colouring-book than it is a game. There's very little range, and the mini-games won't hold your kids' attention for long, but if you're sick of losing crayons down the back of the couch this may be for you.

All the idiocy without the pain, Jackass: The Game delivers exactly what it promises: a relatively entertaining assortment of mini-games inspired by the show that only a fan could love.

Do your part to stop the spread of Coded Arms Contagion and its uninspired strain of first-person action. Crippled controls and multiplayer malaise prove far too potent against its beautiful looks.

It may lack the necessary depth to keep adult gamers contented but MySims will appeal to the younger generation of DS owners.

The gems might not shine as brightly as you remember, but Namco Museum DS is a reasonable collection of bygone classics.

Fun and furious, whether in terms of 2D platforming or 3D mini-gaming, Sonic Rush Adventure proves you can teach an old hedgehog new tricks.

Solidly constructed and as compelling as ever, Jewel Quest on the DS suffers from the wealth of high-quality alternatives on the platform and a somewhat superfluous story.

Thanks to solid arcade handling, Juice 2 offers a well-honed driving experience that's enhanced with plenty of customisation options.

It's not a game, but as a neat virtual guitar Jam Sessions provides great sounds, a tons of musical options and the ability to record your own tracks.

Rather than deliver a tantalising treat, peeling away the skin of DK: Jungle Climber reveals bland play mechanics that can't be saved by the game's creative control system.

Cutesy game based on a fun and original idea of drawing your own world. But, despite lots of innovation, the underlying game is unlikely to captivate older players.

While it may churn over the same ground, this is a feature-laden package that will have you wriggling with pleasure.

A combination of cheeky grins and exploding donkeys makes Worms: Open Warfare 2 a simple and enjoyable slice of handheld action.

Even if the combat mechanics aren't alive and kicking, with its inventive puzzles and unique sense of style the body of Dead Head Fred offers an experience PSP owners shouldn't miss.

A by-the-numbers expansion of an underwhelming role-playing mechanic, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 unfortunately has little new and worthwhile to check out beyond an impressive visual presentation.

Designed for kids, the well presented Pet Alien provides a gentle puzzle-based experience that should appeal to a wider audience than just those who enjoy the TV show.

After a two-year hiatus, the Tiger Woods franchise makes a triumphant return to the DS with this exceptionally entertaining golf simulator.

A brilliant introduction to the GRAW series, this is intelligent, exhilarating portable gaming at its best. While it lasts.

Easily one of the best titles yet for PSP, Jeanne d'Arc triumphs not just in its fictional reenactment of the Hundred Years' War, but in refining the tactical role-playing genre with rock-solid gameplay.

You may squeeze some entertainment out of The Settlers in the early stages but its bugs and inconsistencies will eventually break your spirit.

The PSP has been crying out for a brand new classic Japanese RPG for a long time now. Dragoneer's Aria, as a wholly average expression of the genre that's of interest to super-fans only, is not the game to answer its melancholy call.

Some annoying quirks remain, but the all new tasks and fun multiplayer modes keeps More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? top of the class.

Operation: Vietnam doesn't win any bravery medals for its concept, but it's a well-trained, impressively executed idea that hits all the necessary targets.

Tedious, complex, and unappealing on a variety of levels, D&D Tactics may have authenticity in spades, yet it lacks a modicum of accessibility.

Simultaneously brilliant yet deeply flawed, Heroes of Mana brings novelty to DS strategy gaming. If only the path-finding was up to the standard of the rest of the game, this would be essential.

Rune Factory is an impressive advancement for the Harvest Moon series but you have to be committed to get the most out of the experience.

The crown prince of the American football game, Madden is showing no signs of weakness as he enters his eighteenth year at the top. It may not justify disposing of 07, but this is a great time for newcomers to join the party.

It's not without faults but thanks to an excellent multiplayer mode and a vast number of gameplay options, this takes the series to a new high on DS.

A happy coda in a symphony that had lost its flow, Anniversary cannily pairs the refinements of the last decade with the peerless excellence of the original Tomb Raider.

Providing both action-based and tactical gameplay, Glory Days 2: Brotherhood of Men brings a new, innovative experience to DS wargaming.

Picross DS isn't the most alluring game you'll ever clap eyes on, but it's startlingly addictive and will provide endless hours of utterly compulsive amusement.

It's too short, feels tired and repetitive – not unlike war, Fighter's Battle seems mostly futile.

Resisting the action-packed role-playing adventure awaiting you in Alien Syndrome is futile. While not terribly innovative, it's a solid title with flaws that can easily be overlooked in favour of a good time.

Unquestionably visually and aurally stunning, but in the end Final Fantasy II manages to somehow be simultaneously forward-thinking and painfully anachronistic.

Deal or No Deal is proof TV shows don't always make a good video game. Or even a mediocre one. This is simply terrible – there's not a single redeeming feature in this whole sorry affair.

A good tennis game for the dedicated player looking for a sim-like gaming experience. But for most, Virtua Tennis 3 is more appealing, accessible and, ultimately, fun.

Neatly presented, well thought out and with plenty of modes – multiplayer is especially good - Zendoku is a fun improvement on the basic Sudoku.

Far more than a cynical cash-in, this PSP version of Final Fantasy is the perfect opportunity to see where it all began.

An innovative collection of Breakout-themed mini-games, Nervous Brickdown is a well-designed and beautifully realised slice of DS pocket gaming.

While not quite worthy of a Michelin star, fans of the film and kids looking for fun will be thrilled. It might not offer the biggest of helpings but, while it lasts, Ratatouille tastes great.

Dogsbody fetch-and-carry wizardry that will only appeal to forgiving Potter fans. Hogwash for the rest of us.

The game of the film of the book has exploration, adventuring, action, and loads of mini-games but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ends up being a confusing mush of ideas.

From the outdated graphics to lackluster gameplay, the game possesses more shortcomings than strengths, making it impossible to recommend to anyone but the Transformer faithful.

The definitive handheld version, Transformers DS boasts decent gameplay, good presentation and clever online features that go beyond traditional movie-licensed fare.

So-so graphics, a poor saving capability and too few modes make SimCity DS a distinctly average version of what should have been a much more enjoyable experience.

The definitive handheld version, Transformers DS boasts decent gameplay, good presentation and clever online features that go beyond traditional movie-licensed fare.

An extremely testing puzzle game that demands on-the-spot logical thinking rather than gut reactions, PQ2 is an intriguing experience backed up with loads of content.

Goes all-in with its action-packed shooter gameplay, but a short campaign, limited multiplayer support, and a stack of shortcomings call its bluff.

Aside from its online gameplay, Planet Puzzle League has little new to offer over more engaging rivals.

Surf's Up uses its licence well but flawed execution means it fails to get the pulses racing. Fans of the film can dive on in, but the rest of us will have more fun back on dry land.

Genuinely innovative puzzler that will change the way you think about the genre.

A reasonable conversion of the successful casual PC game, Diner Dash isn't sophisticated or filling enough to truly satisfy DS gourmands.

Less an adolescent social simulation and more a lesson in pandering, Brooktown High fails to make the grade.

There's plenty of ambition on show but Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom is too complicated and patchy to be much fun.

A mostly predictable film licence that has its moments but will inevitably be remembered (or not) for its dreary, repetitive structure, shoddy presentation and palpable lack of ambition.

A superb action platform adventure that captures the exuberance of the film brilliantly.

Kazook is ultimately about as appealing as your dad dancing at your own party. And nobody wants that.

A cheap and cheerful shooter, Touch the Dead isn't revolutionary, but it's a relatively well put together game that will satisfy your lust for zombie zapping.

A futuristic re-skin can't hide the flaws from appearing in one of this usually reliable series' weakest titles. Budding, but no full bloom.

A pretty but repetitive puzzle-based adventure, Shrek the Third feels more like completing a series of chores than having monster-sized fun.

The Thrill Cam is a majestic moment in gaming but it's the rock-solid driving model that ensures great universal enjoyment, albeit marred by technical gremlins and misguided GTA aspirations.

Exciting enough in short sorties, Heatseeker can't really compete with the big boys due to repetitive action, limited multiplayer options and outdated presentation.

The superbly implemented web-slinging and touchscreen combat of Spider-Man 3 more than makes up for the lack of mission variety.

Impressive handling and a decent package of race events completely undermined by technical issues and clumsy execution.

Quantity over quality, this suite of gambling games fails to capture the thrill of throwing all your money away on the single spin of a wheel.

Indeed, it's somewhat ironic that only now, with the integration of Wi-Fi, Pokémon has become the community game it's always pretended to be. Casting a retrospective eye upon the series, it would appear that every game since the series started in 1995 has just been a level up. This, finally, is the real deal. [JPN Import]

Indeed, it's somewhat ironic that only now, with the integration of Wi-Fi, Pokémon has become the community game it's always pretended to be. Casting a retrospective eye upon the series, it would appear that every game since the series started in 1995 has just been a level up. This, finally, is the real deal. [JPN Import]

While fun in short bursts, the DS version of Cake Mania lacks depth and overly repeats on you. Burp.

A great example of modern platforming, coupled with a terrible example of a fighting game. Still, much more to love than hate.

Don't let its cutesy role-playing-lite stylings fool you; Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is a quality game that's a blast to play. [JPN Import]

With misplaced difficulty spikes and limited replay value, an otherwise solid puzzler is outshone by others in its genre.

Arcade Hits is a thoughtful collection including some great games, loads of extras, and fun multiplayer options.

Exceptional tennis game whose combination of exquisite control and alluring content results in one of the most rewarding sporting experiences around.

A decent driving model set within a rich virtual petrolhead lifestyle world that – occasional technical glitches aside – can prove absorbing.

Steel Horizon offers some strategic subtleties, but the slowness of gameplay means it takes a very dedicated commander to unlock its twists and turns.

A linear and repetitive experience, though one that certainly isn't short of occasional frantic moments of arcade greatness. But mediocre production values do restrict its potential and ultimate appeal.

A few nice touches can't hide the fact that this is a mash-up of several incompatible ideas.

Puzzle Quest very successfully mixes the depth of an RPG with a neat puzzle-based battle mode.

Polished in almost every department, this is a well-rounded football sim with surprising depth, given the licence. Obsess!

Being a castaway is an interesting premise, but too much of Lost in Blue 2 is repetitive, dull and fundamentally frustrating to be fun.

A rushed production that, regrettably yet predictably, emerges as a substandard game of a substandard film.

Not very different from versions on other consoles, Theme Park DS makes good use of the console, and is a neat package for those who want to think on the move.

Despite an underwhelming story mode, the action-packed multiplayer matches and lashings of customisation make Custom Robo Arena a nice little diversion.

Brilliantly tailored to the PSP, with varied gameplay and astonishing audio and visuals, this is an easy recommendation to WWII fanatics and civilians alike.

Looks good, but over-complicated controls and needlessly lengthy bouts mar Rocky Balboa, making it a real test of stamina and patience.

If you're after an extreme and challenging golf simulator – and you're able to overlook some visual shortfalls – PSG is well above par.

Making the fullest use of the DS hardware, Spectrobes does almost everything you could want, but it's marred by niggling flaws.